Best Watch Releases You Missed in 2026
Introduction
Every year brings more new watch releases than any of us can realistically keep up with. Between the big launches, endless coverage of the usual brands and the general noise of the watch world, some of the best watch releases of 2026 quietly slip through the cracks.
So, after catching up on what has been released so far in 2026, I have picked out the watches that deserve a little more attention. From more accessible everyday pieces to a few higher-priced releases, these are the watches that may not have dominated the conversation—but are definitely worth knowing about.
I have listed them in ascending price order, from CHF 279 to CHF 9,600.
Timex Marlin Draper Automatic — CHF 279
The Marlin Draper Automatic is a compact, vintage-leaning watch with a 37mm stainless-steel cushion case, a short 43.5mm lug-to-lug measurement and a 12.5mm thickness. Reference TW2Y65200 has a silver day-and-date dial, brown leather strap and display caseback. Its 21-jewel automatic movement offers around 40 hours of power reserve, while mineral glass and 50 metres of water resistance keep the specification practical for everyday use.
At this price, the case shape is what makes the Draper memorable. Timex could have made another straightforward round vintage watch, but the brushed-and-polished cushion case gives it a proper identity. It is not trying to imitate a much more expensive watch; it is simply an affordable mechanical watch with deliberate proportions and more personality than most entry-level options.
Seiko Prospex PADI 60th Anniversary — CHF 710
The 8,000-piece Seiko HBB002 is a serious dive watch. Its steel case measures 45mm across, but the 47.7mm lug-to-lug length makes the footprint more controlled than the diameter suggests. It uses Seiko’s automatic 4R36 calibre with manual winding, hacking seconds and around 41 hours of power reserve. A ceramic bezel insert, sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, 200-metre diver’s rating and both steel bracelet and PADI-branded silicone strap complete a very capable package.
The blue dial, red details and globe motif give this anniversary edition much more presence than a standard blue diver. It will not suit everyone: 45mm and almost 200 grams on the bracelet is substantial. But that is part of the appeal. It is an unapologetic tool watch with a real diving connection, rather than a generic sports watch dressed up in dive-watch colours.
Edox Delfin 1973 Automatic — CHF 950
The Delfin 1973 Automatic takes its cues from an Edox model from the 1970s without becoming a literal vintage copy. The 41mm steel case is defined by its distinctive 12-sided bezel, while the dial has a horizontal texture that adds depth without making it busy. It has a Swiss automatic movement visible through the caseback, a sapphire crystal, screw-down crown and 200 metres of water resistance.
Edox does not receive the same attention as the larger Swiss names, which is exactly why the Delfin belongs here. It looks recognisable from a distance without relying on the usual Submariner-inspired formula or the integrated-bracelet trend. For around CHF 950, it is a genuinely individual Swiss sports watch before the conversation even reaches the specification sheet.
Baltic Scalegraph Champagne — CHF 1,600
Baltic’s Scalegraph Champagne is a 39.5mm hand-wound chronograph with a 47mm lug-to-lug length and a 14.1mm thickness. Its metallic champagne dial, light beige guilloché subdials, brushed aluminium tachymeter bezel and double-domed sapphire give it a very convincing vintage character. Inside is the Sellita SW510-M manual chronograph movement with a 63-hour power reserve. The refreshed case also adds screw-down pushers and 100 metres of water resistance.
The Scalegraph manages to feel nostalgic without being fragile or merely decorative. The champagne version is especially successful because it avoids the expected panda formula without becoming loud. Its thickness is worth knowing before buying, but that comes with a robust mechanical chronograph. For anyone wanting a manual-wind chronograph with more personality than the usual heritage reissues, Baltic makes a very strong case.
Oris Artelier Date — CHF 1,750
The new Oris Artelier Date (01 733 7810 4051-07 6 20 17FC ) is a restrained 38mm steel dress watch with a white dial, brown leather strap and domed sapphire crystal. It runs on the Oris Calibre 733-1, an automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve, stop-seconds function and instantaneous date correction. The display caseback, 20mm lug width and 30 metres of water resistance underline its role as a clean, modern dress watch rather than an everyday sports watch.
I have had the chance to try the Artelier Date, which made it easier to understand why it stood out in a year full of sportier releases. Oris has not tried to force it into another category; it is simply compact, considered and very much its own thing. In a catalogue known for the Aquis, Big Crown and ProPilot families, the Artelier is the quieter choice—and one of the most interesting new Oris releases of 2026.
Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph — CHF 1,995
The H38429591 is a 40mm hand-wound chronograph with a vintage-brown dial, perforated brown calfskin strap and an additional mesh bracelet in the box. Hamilton’s H-51 mechanical chronograph movement offers a 60-hour power reserve. The steel case is 14.35mm thick with a 49mm lug-to-lug length, and it includes a sapphire crystal, Nivachron balance spring, tachymeter scale and 100 metres of water resistance.
Hamilton is a brand I already enjoy through my Khaki Expedition, but the Intra-Matic shows a completely different side of it. It leans into 1970s racing without becoming a costume watch, while the brown dial feels less predictable than the familiar panda versions. At CHF 1,995, it is a compelling alternative to much more expensive vintage-inspired Swiss chronographs—and the hand-wound movement is a big part of the charm.
Rado Captain Cook 39mm — CHF 2,200
The Rado Captain Cook R32223313 does not reinvent the Captain Cook; it brings the existing formula into a new 39mm case. It is 12mm thick and combines a black-to-green gradient dial with a green high-tech ceramic bezel insert and steel bracelet. The automatic Rado R763 movement provides an 80-hour power reserve, Nivachron hairspring and five-position testing, while the watch also has a screw-down crown, sapphire crystal, lume and date display.
The important part of this release is simply the size. Larger Captain Cook versions can feel like a lot of watch, whereas this 39mm edition looks far more versatile on paper. It is a good reminder that a new release does not need a new complication or radical redesign to matter; sometimes a collection just needs the proportions to be right.
Eberhard & Co. Scafograf 200 MCMLIX — CHF 3,180
The Scafograf 200 MCMLIX is a 39mm automatic dive watch inspired by Eberhard’s 1959 Scafograf. It has a matte black gradient dial, domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel insert and 200 metres of water resistance. Small details make it more distinctive: an automatic helium-release valve at nine o’clock, an engraved starfish on the screw-in caseback and a steel Milanese-style bracelet with Eberhard’s 2CLICK clasp.
This does not feel like a generic retro diver because the source material is specific and the execution is full of individual details. The 39mm case is notably more restrained than many modern dive watches, yet the helium valve and 200-metre rating still give it real tool-watch credibility. It is a thoughtful choice for someone who wants an alternative to the obvious Swiss divers.
Favre-Leuba 1737 Triple Calendar — CHF 3,500
Favre-Leuba’s 1737 Triple Calendar is the most classically complicated watch in this selection. The 39mm steel case houses the FLD06 automatic movement with a 56-hour power reserve, visible through a sapphire caseback. Its dial uses day and month apertures at 12 o’clock, a pointer date around the edge and a moonphase display at six. The 100-metre water resistance adds welcome everyday practicality to an otherwise elegant format.
Favre-Leuba has a rich history, but its recent return is still flying under the radar. This makes the Triple Calendar especially compelling: it is not another simple three-hand revival, but a genuinely attractive complication watch at CHF 3,500. The dial is busy by necessity, yet it remains readable and balanced—and offers unusual value in a category that is often priced far higher.
Chopard Mille Miglia Raticosa — CHF 9,600
The Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Raticosa is the most expensive watch here, but it remains more restrained than much of Chopard’s wider catalogue. Reference 168619-3020 combines titanium and Lucent Steel in a 40.5mm case that is 12.88mm thick. It has an eggshell-coloured matte dial, brown perforated calfskin strap, sapphire crystal and 50 metres of water resistance. Inside is a COSC-certified self-winding chronograph movement with a date, small seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters.
Named after the Raticosa Pass, one of the decisive stages of the Mille Miglia route, this watch has more purpose than a simple racing colour scheme. The warm dial, restrained case size and perforated strap make it feel suited to someone who genuinely likes historic motorsport rather than a loud automotive accessory. It is firmly aspirational, but a strong reminder that the best watch releases of 2026 extend beyond the brands that dominate the usual conversation.
Final thoughts
These watches are not meant to replace the headline releases from the biggest brands. They are reminders that the most interesting new watches are often the ones with a clearer point of view: a smaller case, a revived design language, an unusual complication or a brand with more history than current hype.
If I had to pick the watches I am most curious to see in person, the Edox Delfin 1973, the Baltic Scalegraph and the Favre-Leuba 1737 Triple Calendar would be high on the list. But that is the appeal of this selection: there is no single winner. There are simply more interesting options out there than the releases everyone was already talking about.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my guide to five watches under CHF 1,000 I’d actually buy
Disclaimer: All images featured in this article are sourced from the official websites of the respective watch brands and remain the property of their respective owners. They are included for editorial and illustrative purposes only.
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